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European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Commissioner Roswall's keynote address at ‘Europe-week' hosted by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) Munich, 4 May 2026 Professor Henkel, Professor Peus, Ladies and Gentlemen, At its very core, the European project is about securing peace and prosperity through collaboration. ‘Einigkeit macht stark' is the principle that guides our work – and it is an urgent...
European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Commissioner Roswall's keynote address at ‘Europe-week' hosted by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) Munich, 4 May 2026 Professor Henkel, Professor Peus, Ladies and Gentlemen, At its very core, the European project is about securing peace and prosperity through collaboration. ‘Einigkeit macht stark' is the principle that guides our work – and it is an urgent call to action in today's world. The greatest challenges facing the EU, from conflict to climate change to competitiveness, are shared ones. We can only overcome them together. So I am delighted to be for here for European Union Week. For almost 160 years, the Technical University of Munich has been at the very forefront of scientific discovery in Europe – and has been providing young people with the science and engineering skills that society so desperately needs. 19 Nobel Prize Laureates have walked these halls, along with tens of thousands of students, determined to solve the world's problems. And countless start-ups have grown out of this institution, delivering innovation to society. This is exactly the type of creative problem solving we want – determined, engaged, and innovative young people committed to a better future. Now, let me start with a statement of fact: Vibrant ecosystems, healthy soils, clean water and air – these are the building blocks of a competitive and resilient economy. Did you know that 3 out of 4 European businesses rely heavily on one or more ecosystem service? This shows that we cannot separate environmental action from economic policy. Today, I want to discuss a policy area where the links between environmental and economic opportunity are especially powerful – the circular economy. Our ecosystems are struggling, and our water cycle is broken. Real wars, trade wars, resource scarcity and climate change are threatening our economies, competitiveness, energy and green transition, security, and more. These events highlight just how exposed the EU is to vulnerable supply chains. Just how dependent we are on other countries for critical raw materials. And just how quickly geopolitical conflict can spill over into our economy. When that happens, the effects are hard-hitting. Energy and material prices rise. Production costs increase. Pressure on households and businesses intensifies. And Europe is reminded that dependence comes with a cost. This is why the circular economy matters so much. Not only because it helps us reduce waste. But because it helps us reduce vulnerability. It means we use materials more efficiently. It eases pressure on our ecosystems. And it helps to build a stronger economic base in Europe. So, the circular transition is not simply an environmental choice. It has become an economic necessity. We are taking concrete steps to speed up that transition. Last year, we took action to support plastic recyclers. We are building markets for bio-based solutions – for example turning organic waste into packaging, energy and fertilisers. And we're working hard to deliver a change in mindset when it comes to water and circularity. Too often, we still approach water and the circular economy as separate policy domains. However, water is not just a resource within the circular economy—it is the medium through which circularity so often happens. At the same time, circular solutions—from material recovery to energy efficiency—directly shape how water is used, treated and reused. Our Water Resilience Strategy is based on this core principle: There is no circular economy without water resilience, and no water resilience without circularity. One of my overarching priorities for this year is the Circular Economy Act – now in its final stages of preparation. We want to: Strengthen the Single Market for secondary raw materials, and Address bottlenecks on the supply and demand side. For businesses, circularity comes with huge opportunities. A recent study suggests additional circular practices could cut metals use for EU manufacturers by 10%, electricity by 7% and fossil fuels by 6%. It can also open new revenue streams and increase their resilience against global shocks. But if we want companies to invest in circularity, then we need better market conditions. We need to get the economics right. And we need to strengthen the business case for circularity. So, really, the Circular Economy Act is about market-building. And it is about giving investors and companies stability and predictability in an unstable world. The wider potential – to recover vital resources and to reduce our need to import them – is enormous. Today, less than 40% of electronic waste is collected and only 30% recycled. That means we are leaving hundreds of thousands of tonnes of critical raw materials behind. For example, one metric ton of smartphone components can provide recyclers with the amount of gold and copper typically extracted from 2,000 metric tons of mined rock. And material recovery from batteries could supply half of the EU's cobalt demand by 2040. Did you know that phosphorus, a vital component in fertiliser, can be recovered from wastewater. In fact, phosphorus recovery here in Germany could meet more than 40 per cent of current agricultural demand. European companies – many of them from Germany – are already leading on circular innovation. Traceless – from Hamburg – is creating entirely compostable packaging without plastic. Other creative start-ups are recycling ocean plastic into furniture. Here in Bavaria, BMW is pioneering a closed-loop system for electric vehicle batteries. A few months ago, I visited Germany's first lithium recycling plant. And Made of Air – from TUM's start up ecosystem – is turning bio-waste into engineered biocarbon, ready for industrial use. European businesses are also driving innovation in the water sector – where there is huge opportunity for growth. Europe's digital water market is on track to double in size, to about 23 billion euros by 2033. And our Digital Strategy for the Water Sector will guide this growth and enhance water efficiency at the same time. Ladies and gentlemen, The EU has shown what it can do when it combines environmental leadership with economic vision. Ambitious rules have delivered cleaner water and air, more renewable energy, lower carbon emissions and more. Beyond the obvious environmental and health benefits, these steps also deliver powerful economic advantages. And they remind us how economic resilience and environmental responsibility are two sides of the same coin. The circular economy is a major stage in this journey. And yes, this transition depends on legislation – so the Circular Economy Act will be vital. But it also depends on collaboration – and you play a key role. As policy makers, scientists, and businesses. And, crucially, as the innovators, engineers and leaders of tomorrow. So, I wish you an excellent, insightful European Union Week. And I look forward to working with you to build a future that is circular by design, competitive by nature, and sustainable to its very core. SPEECH/26/964
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